Combined container and holder for blocklike articles



Jan. 18, 1949. J SKOLD COMBINED CONTAINER AND HOLDER FOR BLOCK-LIKE ARTICLES Filed Sept. 10, 1947 Patented Jan. 18, 1949 COMBINED CONTAINER AND HOLDER FOR BLOCKLIKE ARTICLES John F. Skold,- Chicago, Ill.

Application September 10, 1947, Serial No. 773,171

6 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to combined containers and holders. More particularly the invention relates to that type of combined container and holder which is adapted for use in connection with a useable block-like article, such as a block of hair fixative or shoe cleaner, is capable of being carried in the users pocket or purse, and as its components comprises a container in the form of a rectangular bottom part and a box-like open bottom cover part, and a holder which is mounted on the bottom part of the container and carries the article in such manner that it is housed and protected by the cover part when the latter is in its closed position and is exposed when the cover part of the container is in its open position.

One object of the invention is to provide a combined container or holder of this type which is an improvement upon, and has certain inherent advantages over, previously designed combined containers and holders of the same general character and is characterized by simplicity of design or construction and the fact that it may be manipulated with facility.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combined container and holder of the type under consideration in which the holder for the article consists of two coacting or complemental pieces, one of which is U-shaped, has the bottom thereof mounted fixedly on the bottom part of the container and embodies in each of its sides a vertical series of horizontally extending, full length, open ended, inwardly facing grooves, and the other of which is shaped to grip the bottom part of the block-like article and is so proportioned and designed that it may be slid longitudinally into seated relation with any pair of opposed grooves in the sides of the U-shaped piece to the end that as the article is progressively worn away in connection with use it may be moved outwards from the bottom of the U-shaped piece in order to compensate for wear and retain the article in a proper exposed position for use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combined container and holder of the last mentioned character in which the inwardly facing grooves in the sides ofthe U-shaped piece of the holder are formed by corrugations, the outer ribs of which are adapted when the cover part of the container is in its closed position with respect to the bottom part to engage the side walls of the cover part with spring pressure in order frictionally and yieldingly to hold the cover part in place.

, A still further object of the invention is to pro vide a combined container and holder which is of generaly new and improved construction and is capable of being manufactured or fabricated at an extremely low cost.

Other objects of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the present combined container and holder will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which arehereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawing which accompanies and forms a part of this specification or disclosure and in which like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a top perspective of a combined container and holder embodying the invention;

Figure is a bottom perspective of the cover part of the container;

Figure 3 isa top perspective showing the bottom part of the container without the cover part and also showing the slide piece of the holder in seated or operative relation with the U-shaped piece;

Figure 4 is a top perspective of the slide piece which constitutes one of the two elements of the holder and is adapted to grip and retain the block-like article with which the combined container and holder is used;

Figure 5 ma vertical transverse section showing the slide piece in the lowermost pair of grooves in the sides of the U-shaped piece of the holder and illustrating in detail the manner in which the external ribs on thesides of the U-shaped piece engage the side walls of the cover part of the container with spring pressure and serve releasably or yiGIdiIlgIy to hold the cover part in its closed position; and

Figure 6 is a vertical transverse section showing the slide piece of the holder in seated relation with the uppermost pair of grooves in the sides of the U-shaped piece in order that it serves properly to expose the block-like article after material use and resultant wearing away thereof.

The combined container and holder which is shown in the drawing constitutes the preferred formor embodiment of the invention. It is designed or adapted for use in connection with a block-like article I of the type that is applied to a surface by a rubbing action. As heretofore indicated, the article may be a. block of hair fixative or shoe cleaner or any other like item.

flat and has a continuous, upstanding flange In.

The flange is formed as an integral part of the bottom part and consists of spaced apart, parallel end portions and spaced apart, parallel side porv Y tions that extend between, and are disposed at right angles to, the end portions. The cover part 9 of the holderis of box-like character and consists of a flat rectangular top wall II, a pair of opposed, spaced apart, depending end walls l2 and a pair of opposed, spaced apart, depending side walls 53. The bottom of the cover part is form opposed, full length, substantially semi cylindrical flanges 2i). It is of slightly less length than the U-shaped piece 54 and is connected to the bottom part of the block-like article I by way of the semicylindricalfianges 20, As best shown in Figures 3 to 65, inclusive, .the upper,

inwardly extending margins ofthe flanges are embedded in the adjacent portions of the article "I. withthe result that the article is fixedlysmounted on the slide piece i5 of the holder; The flanges 20 are shaped conformably to, and are spaced apart approximately the same distance as,

the inwardlyfacingngrooves E8 in the sides ll of the U-shaped piece M, and are adapted, as shown in the drawing, to be seated within any pair of opposed grooves by sliding the slide piece t5 longitudinally relatively to the U-shaped piece open. The side walls l3 are joined to, and extend between, the side margins of the end walls [2 and are the same in height as the end walls. The cover part is shiftable into an open position with respect to the bottom part by raising it and is shiftable into a closed position with respect to the bottom part by shifting it downwards. When the cover part is in its closed position the lower margins of the end and side walls thereof fit respectively within the end and side portions of the upstanding marginal flange ll] of the bottom part. The cover part is of greater height than the article "i and serves when in its closed position to house the two-piece holder and the article, I

as best shown in Figure 5.

The two-piece holder of the combined container and holder consists of aU-shaped piece I and a 'coacting or interfitting slide piece l5.

Preferably each of these pieces is in the form of a one-piecesheet metal stamping The U-shaped piece is is mounted on the bottom part B of the container and consists of a flat-rectangular bottom It and a pair of opposed, spaced apart, uplstanding sides 'I l. The bottom l6 of the U-shaped piece is slightly smaller in size than the bottom part8 and rests in a centered position on, and is spot welded or otherwisefixedly s'ecured'to;

the bottom part. The sides I! are the same in:

, seriesof pairs of opposed grooves. The sides If! of the U-shaped piece M are so spaced apart that the outwardly extending or external ribs i9 engage with spring pressure the side walls is of the cover parts when the latter is'in its closed position and thus serve frictionally and yieldingly to hold the cover part in such position. Each side ll of the U-shaped piece [4 is shown as having three inwardly facing grooves |8',"-al though it is to be understood that more "or less grooves may be formed in eachof the sides. The outermost portions of the ribs H! are spaced inwardly with respect to the side portions of the marginal flange H) a suflicient distance to facil itate ready downward sliding of the cover part lii'nto its closed position with respect to the bottom part 8 of the container. The slide piece id of the holder is rectangular and has the side margins thereof bent upwards and inwards to after first aligning the flanges with the selected When the flanges 20 pair of opposed grooves. are in seated relation with any one pair of opposedgrooves (see Figure 3) the slide piecelii is interloclsed against transverse displacement. with respectto'the U-shaped piece is and serves 1 to holdthe block-like article a in a position where in it isin readiness for use upon removal of the cover-part fi from the bottom part- Hi. It is contemplated that when the article I is unworn or unused the flanges of the slide piece will be seated-win the lowermost pair of groovesgas shown in Figure 3 of the drawing. When the slide piece is, in effect, carried by the lowermost pair of grooves the article] is positioned sothat the upper part thereof is disposed above'th'eupp'er. margins of the sides I! of the U-shaped piecei l. When-the upper part of the article becomes worn away due to use the slide piece: I5 is slid longitudinally out ofinterlocked relation with the U-shaped pieceandisthen'slid into'seated or interlocked relation with the next uppermost pair "of opposed grooves 'in order to bring the remaining upperpart of the article ,i into a useable position wherein it is disposed above the upper margins of the sides of the U-shaped piece; When the upper part of the article 'l'is again 1 worn down the slide piece is removed by sliding it longitudinally relatively to the U-shaped piece-1 and is then slid back 'into'the next uppermost pair of opposed grooves. By positioning the slide piece it progressively outwards =With' respect to the U-shaped piece the user of the combined container and holder may readily compensat'eior progressive wear so far-as'the block-like-article- It is-contemplated that when his concerned. 7 theslide piece I5 is in interlocked relation with the; U-shaped piece the sides of the" U-shaped piece will grip the flanges 20 with inward pressure'in' order to retain the slide piece in place while at the sametime permitting it, in connection with adjustment or positioning thereof,- to

be slid away from or out of engagement Withinto its closed position wherein, as previously pointed out, it'serves'to house the article together with the holder therefor. When the cover part is in its closed'position the ribs Iii-engage the side walls 13 of- '-t-he"coverf'partifrictionally andwith outward spring pressure and hence serve firmly but-releasably to-hold the cover part in place. As the. article I is worn away in connection with repeated use thereof it is progressively adjusted or shiftedoutwards with respect to the bottom part 8 by successively repositioning the slide piece f5 in different pairs of opposed grooves as hereinbefore recited.

The herein described combined container and holder effectively and efficiently fulfills its intended purpose and is so designed or constructed that it may be produced at an exteremely low cost. By reason of the fact that the holder consists of the U-shaped piece l4 and the slide piece it is possible' quickly and readily to adjust the article outwards or upwards in order to compensate for wearing away of the top of the article.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by letters patent is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a holder adapted for use with a block-like article and comprising a U-shaped piece embodying a pair of upstanding, spaced apart, substantially parallel sides, each with a vertical series 0f.horizontally extending, open ended, inwardly facing grooves in alignment with the grooves in the other side, and a rectangular slide piece positioned under the article and having at the sides thereof a pair of upwardly and inwardly extending flanges arranged in grippin relation with the lower portions of the sides of the article, spaced laterally apart and shaped substantially conformably to the grooves in the sides of the U-shaped piece, and adapted to be brought into and out of seated relation with any one pair of opposed grooves by sliding the slide piece longitudinally relatively to the U-shaped piece.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a holder adapted for use with a block-like article and comprising a U-shaped piece embodying a pair of upstanding, substantially parallel sides, each with a vertical series of horizontally extending, open ended, substantially semi-cylindrical, inwardly facing grooves in alignment with the grooves in the other side, and a rectangular onepiece slide piece positioned under the article and having at the sides thereof a pair of integral, upwardly and inwardly extending, substantially semi-cylindrical flanges arranged so that the upper margins thereof are embedded in the lower portions of the sides of the article, spaced laterally apart and shaped substantially conformably to the grooves in the sides of the U-shaped.

piece, and adapted to be brought into and out of seated relation with any one pair of opposed grooves by sliding the slide piece longitudinally relatively to the U-shaped piece.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a holder adapted for use with a block-like article and comprising a U-shaped piece having a pair of upwardly extending, spaced apart, substantially parallel sides, each with horizontal, open ended corrugations in alignment with the corrugations in the other side, and a rectangular slide piece positioned under the article and having at the sides thereof a pair of upstanding flanges arranged in gripping relation with the lower portion of the article, spaced laterally apart and shaped substantially conformably to the corrugations. in the sides of the U-shaped' piece, and adapted to be brought into and out of seated relation with any one pair of opposed corrugations by sliding the slide piece longitudinally relatively to the U-shaped piece.

4. Asa new article of manufacture, a holder adapted for use with a block-like article and comprising a U-shaped piece formed of a onepiece sheet metal stamping and having a pair of upwardlyzextending, spaced apart, substantially parallel sides, each with horizontal, full length,: openv ended corrugations in alignment with the corrugations in the other side, and a rectangular slide piece positioned under the article and having at the sides a pair of upstanding flanges arranged in gripping relation with the lower portion of the article, spaced laterally apart and shaped substantially conformably to the corrugations in the sides of the U-shaped piece, and adapted to be brought into and out of seater relation with any one pair of opposed corrugations by sliding the slide piece longitudinally relatively to the U-shaped piece, the sides of the U-shaped piece bein so laterally resilient and inwardly bent that when the slide piece is in seated relation with respect to said U-shaped piece they engage the flanges with inward spring pressure.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a combined container and holder adapted for use with a block-like article and comprising a two-part container consisting of a rectangular bottom part and a box-like cover part having an open bottom, embodying two pairs of opposed depending walls and adapted to be shifted back and. forth between an open position wherein it is wholly removed from the bottom part and a closed position wherein it directly overlies said bottom part, and a two-piece holder consisting of a U-shaped piece embodying a flat bottom mounted on, and attached to, the bottom part, and a pair of upstanding, spaced apart, substantially parallel sides extending at right angles to the end margins of the bottom part and similarly horizontally corrugated from bottom to top in such manner as to provide open ended, inwardly facing grooves and complemental, outwardly facing ribs, and a rectangular slide piece positioned under the article and having at the sides thereof a pair of upwardly and inwardly extending flanges arranged in gripping relation with the lower portion of the article, spaced laterally apart and shaped substantially conformably to the grooves in the sides of the U-shaped piece, and adapted when the cover part is in its open position to be brought into and out of seated relation with any one pair of opposed grooves by sliding the slide piece longitudinally relatively to the U-shaped piece, the outwardly facing ribs on the sides of the U-shaped piece being so arranged and designed that when the cover part of the container is in its closed position they grip frictionally and with outward spring pressure the adjacent opposed depending walls of said cover part and serve releasably to hold said cover part in its closed position.

'6. As a new article of manufacture, a combined container and holder adapted for use with a block-like article and comprising a two-part container consisting of a rectangular bottom part with an upwardly extending, continuous, marginal flange and a box-like cover part having an open bottom, embodying two pairs of opposed depending walls and adapted to be shifted back and forth between an open position wherein it is 7 wholly removed from the bottom part and a closed position wherein it directly overlies said bottom part and the bottom margins of the depending walls thereof arein lapped relationwith said flange, and a two-piece holder consisting of a U-shaped piece embodying aflat bottom mounted apart and: shaped substantially I conformably :Jtd the grooves in thesides of' the u-shapedxpiece; and adapted when the cover part is inits open position to be brought into and out of seated relation with any one pair'of opposed grooves 'by. sliding the slide piece longitudinally relatively to the u-shaped piece; the outwardly'facing ribs-on the sides of the U-sh'aped piecevbeingisoarranged and designed that 'w'herl the cover 'part of" the container isnin its closed position they grip frice tionally and with. outward spring pressure the adjacent opposed dependingrwalls of saidcover part and serve releasably to hold'said cover part in its closed position. g .r p

1 7 JOHN F. SKOLD. I

No references cited; 

